Multiple Versions of Adobe Reader Work With Grants.Gov

There has been some question lately as to which Adobe Reader version is usable with Grants.gov. The response is straightforward, there 4 versions compatible with Grants.gov.

1. Adobe Reader 8.1.1 – while compatible, submission made outside the browser will result in a broken pipe issue; therefore it is incumbent on the applicant to comply with instructions on the Grants.gov website.

2. Adobe Reader 8.1.2 – this version includes a security fix, but the “fix” was not applicable to Grants.gov forms; the same broken pipe issue remains as was in 8.1.1

3. Adobe Reader 8.1.3 – this version fixes broken pipe thereby allowing for submission outside the browser.

4. Adobe Reader 9.0 – this version contains the broken pipe issue, which will not be fixed until 9.1 is released.

First, it merits saying that Grants.gov does not “control” Adobe’s versioning system and releases.

Second, Adobe is, as are most computer-based software systems, constantly upgrading their capability. As a consequence, it is incumbent on Grants.gov and the applicant to remain attuned to the latest requirements and capabilities.

As Adobe releases a new version, it must be “tested” and “challenged” by Grants.gov to ensure compatibility and usability. When this is attained, the Grants.gov Program Management Office (PMO) then posts the updates on the Grants.gov website, its blog, and the information is disseminated via multiple venues to the applicant community.

Additionally, because Adobe is attuned to the needs of Grants.gov, many of their recent releases (i.e., newest versions) have been in response to Grants.gov needs. An excellent example of this is version 8.1.3; it fixed the “broken pipe” concerns evident in prior versions.

Because Adobe is constantly pursuing a better product with increased functionalities – and because it is operating in a highly competitive commercial arena – Adobe cannot “sit still.” If it were to freeze its product, Adobe would surrender the initiative to its competitors. As a consequence, it is a product seeking continuous improvements.

What does this mean to Grants.gov? This means as the Adobe product moves forward, so too must Grants.gov, and so too much the applicant community. That we must all constantly upgrade our capabilities is the price of success.

We well understand concerns regarding the many version changes. We at Grants.gov have the additional burden of testing and challenging each new version, validating its usability, and upgrading our capabilities. Unlike the individual applicant community wherein the latest version might merit only downloading, the applicant system-to-system and Grants.gov systems cannot remain stagnant but require continuous fine tuning.

Finally, why two versions of Adobe and not a single version? This is a question we posed to Adobe. Before presenting you their reply (below), the bottom-line is that Adobe has long maintained multiple product lines for different commercial audiences, in other words – the market place drives their products and relevant capabilities. This, too, becomes something we must live with.

The following is Adobe’s response:

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In product release cycles, there are three dates defined in the support policies. These include “General availability”, “End of core support”, and “End of extended support”. The products and their associated dates can be found on the Adobe website here: http://www.adobe.com/support/products/enterprise/eol/eol_matrix.html.

During the period between “General availability” and “End of core support” additional versions of Adobe Reader may be provided to the public and may include enhancements or product fixes. These enhancements may be made to any Adobe Reader version that has not reached End of core support. Depending on the product release cycle this may result in the availability of a specific enhancement in an “earlier” version of Reader. For example, an enhancement may be made available in Reader 8.1.3 that is not available in Reader 9.0 and will not be included in the Reader 9 series until Reader 9.1. Despite the version numbers, Reader 8.1.3 was released prior to Reader 9.1 but after Reader 9.0.
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Adobe has been an excellent partner with Grants.gov. We have the attention of the corporate headquarters, their developers, and staff. When we have encountered problems, Adobe has deployed, at their own cost, teams of people to our system integrator site to assist in problem resolution. Grants.gov and the applicant community are not part of the “acceptable noise level” in Adobe’s commercial arena. On the contrary, if and when we have problems, need support, and or voice our opinion, Adobe has a history of being responsive. They are our – Grants.gov and the applicant community’s – partner. But it is important to note that the partnership runs two-ways – as they support us, we must maintain pace with them (and their latest versions). Only in doing so will we all attain greater functionality and capability.